Practical Courses
Practical Courses
Preliminary remark
The practical training is structured in such a way that it can be completed either sequentially or by taking individual projects. One exception is the last course Vertiefende Beobachtungstechniken der Astrophysik (Advanced Observation Techniques in Astrophysics), as the use of the 1 m telescopes at the C2PU requires prior knowledge. Students who wish to take this course must therefore first undergo an individual briefing in Oldenburg. The scope and content depend on the individual's prior knowledge.
The modules described below are partly the content of the lectures, so this also results in a minimal study recommendation. The illustrations describe the instruments used and give an impression of the observation results.
Module 1: Basics of visual sky observation
Event: Tutorials within 5.04.342 Astrophysik
Learning objectives:
- Basic orientation in the night sky
- Use of planetarium programmes
- Observation planning for arbitrary places and times
- Use of different types of telescopes
- Refractors
- Newtonian telescopes
- Maksutov telescopes
- Basics of astronomical imaging
Building block 2: Use of parallactic and robotic telescopes
Event:Experiment in Fortgeschrittenen Praktikum Bachelor or Lab Project II
Learning objectives:
- Independent setup and use of parallactic telescopes
- Alignment
- Selection of alignment stars
- Finding objects
- Use of robotic telescopes in Tenerife, Chile, Australia or the USA
- Basics of astronomical image processing
- Properties of a CCD imager
- SNR, background modelling, alignment, stacking, colour calibration and intensity transformations
- Observation planning with planetarium programme
- Recording and creation of an object catalogue with 3 selected objects
Module 3: Using remote telescopes for photometry, astrometry and orbit determination
Event: Fortgeschrittenen-Praktikum Masteror e.g. Tools and Skills in Engineering Physics
Learning objectives:
- Operation of remote telescopes in
- Oldenburg
- Australia / USA
- Deepening of advanced evaluation techniques in astrophysics
- Photometry (brightness determination)
- Astrometry (position determination)
- Carrying out the orbit determination of minor planets/comets according to the specifications of the Minor Planet Center of the International Astronomical Union (see also IAU Minor Planet Center)
Module 4: Excursion to the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, C2PU
Course: Vertiefende Beobachtungstechniken der Astrophysik (5.04.4644)
Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, C2PU
Learning objectives:
- Use of professional telescopes of the 1m class
- Planning of project- and research-oriented observation campaigns lasting several days
- Examples:
- Commissioning of spectrometers
- Observation of active asteroids
- Examples:
- Advanced astrophotography
Note: Participation in this event will incur costs for meals/accommodation and travel (max. 100 Euro on site, plus travel costs). Unfortunately, these costs cannot be guaranteed to be covered and may therefore have to be borne privately.
